The Glass Between Us
Shoestring Players presented an original work -The Glass Between Us - written by Kathleen A Einarssonat the 2026 Winnipeg Fringe Festival!
Set in Winnipeg, The Glass Between Us follows two women who never see each other yet form a friendship that transforms them both.
Kate, having left an abusive marriage, decides to venture into the unpredictable and often hilarious world of online dating. On the neighbouring balcony is Marge, an older woman who offers sharp wit and steady wisdom to their daily conversations, which take place through the frosted glass between them. Through bad dates and brave truth telling, small triumphs unfold. As Kate learns that promising profiles are not always rooted in reality, she also discovers that when we dare to speak, we dare to heal. Tough like a daisy, the play explores resilience, self discovery, and how friendships can give us the encouragement to bloom again.
Directed by Christine Reimer and brought to life by eleven exceptional actors, the show boasted humour, warmth, comedy, and a memorable theatre experience.
The show was staged at the West End Cultural Centre (WECC) and was met with several wonderful reviews from patrons and press alike!
Kevin Longfield, writing for the U of M, stated:
“Kathleen Einarson has written a largely effective play that connected well with the audience on Tuesday night. The production features two strong leads: Leslie Boardman as Kate, and Rhonda Kennedy Rogers as Marge, her next-door neighbour and sounding board. The two women have a strong relationship forged by conversations on their adjacent balconies. As Kate returns from one disastrous date after another, Marge commiserates and bolsters Kate’s fragile ego.
The first three dating scenes are funny, where stereotypical males get their bubbles burst. The final date is much darker, but Kate’s newfound self-confidence allows her to escape the situation. Director Christine Reimer does a great job of moving from scene to scene without losing momentum, no mean feat given the size of the cast and the many costume changes that Boardman must undergo.
The writing is on the whole effective, and surprisingly, given that the two main characters have lengthy conversations where they do not see each other, the relationship is believable and touching. On the other hand, I had a hard time believing that two people living next door to each other would never have seen each other, either in the hallway, picking up the mail, or by one of them inviting the other over for tea.
I also hoped that Kate would realize that her criteria for choosing to go on a date were superficial: good looks, fancy cars, exciting careers. We do learn that Kate’s superficial dating forays get in the way of deepening her relationship with Marge, the one person who truly cares about her.
That said, it was an engaging hour of theatre that leaves us with something to think about. I hope that Shoestring continues to present new works.”
Holly Harris, in her Free Press Fringe review, wrote:
“This gentle 60-minute dramedy follows Kate (Leslie Boardman), who is rebuilding her life after an abusive 12-year marriage, and her older, wiser neighbour Marge (Rhonda Kennedy Rogers), who crochets afghans and listens attentively through their adjoining glass balcony wall. After Kate ventures into the online dating world, she encounters a string of potential suitors, each one creepier (and uncomfortably true to life) than the last, ultimately discovering her own power.
Hats off to the actors in the local company: Rick Scherger with an over-the-top portrayal of “Touchdown Tommy”; Karl Copp as sleazy (fired) pilot Armondo; and Marlon Goolcharan’s flamboyant Julien with his “luxury ego.” Daniel Cormier’s particularly nightmarish sexual predator/stalker Steve will give you the willies. All are skilfully directed by Christine Reimer, despite a few ragged entries. Kudos also to Kennedy Rogers for her riveting monologue, introducing us to her daughter Susan (Kaleigh McLauchlan).
There’s many a cliché in Kathleen Einarsson’s script and you can see the ending coming a mile away. Still, you can’t help but root for this plucky protagonist, finally playing a starring role in her life’s drama.”
